Native American Task Force
Annual Report for Native American Task Force
St. Patrick’s is in a partnership with the Mountains and Deserts Regional Indian Ministry, which was formed by the National Church to find solutions to the problems facing small Native American churches, isolated by distance and neglect. We are partners with seven churches on four reservations (Paiute, Arapaho, Shoshone/Bannock and Ute), one urban church in San Jose , California and an Indian congregation in eastern Oregon . St. Patrick’s is the only non-Native American partner.
In the 15 years that we have been affiliated with the Mountains and Deserts Ministry, St. Patrick’s has hosted and organized the 500 Year Celebration at the Washington Cathedral in 1992 (an event that commemorated the arrival of Christopher Columbus and the Europeans’ first introduction to the Native Americans), participated in the Jamestown Reconciliation (where the presiding bishop reached out to reconcile the errors of the Anglican/Episcopal Church), attended the consecrations of Native American bishops in Navaholand and Southern Virginia, and has hosted and participated in the annual Paths Crossing conferences.
In past summers, parishioners have traveled to the Uintah reservation in Utah and the Shoshone/Bannock reservation in Idaho to work and play with our Native American friends. Mornings were spent painting, weeding and cleaning. Afternoons saw us visiting sites on the reservation and exploring the local area. A number of our youth have participated in these trips and returned with a new understanding of our indigenous friends. For some, it was a life changing experience. Participants have included Christopher Basil, Mary Grace Corey, Robin Jones , Barbara Lott , Jasmine Niernberger, Eric Stillions, Emily Stillions, Stephen White, Joe White, Diane and CA Stillions, Trevor Lott , Bill Wilson, Marjorie Gerbracht -Stagnaro, and our fearless leader, Betty McWhorter .
Plans for 2005 include attending the annual Paths Crossing conference in Wadsworth, Nevada on the Pyramid Lake Reservation (Paiute) on March 31 – April 3rd, and a summer youth/family trip to eastern Oregon on August 6 – 13 th. Funding for the task force comes from monies raised at the jewelry and bake sale in December, and the rummage sale in April. Many people participate to help make these efforts successful. The rummage sale in particular, which raises money for all of outreach, demands the time and energy of sixty volunteers.
To paraphrase the Mountains and Deserts covenant: We are many, all related in the eyes of the Creator. In all walks of life, we come to this sacred circle as partners. We are Brothers and Sisters journeying together with the commitment to listen, share, learn and worship together. We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.
If you are interested in finding out more about this rewarding ministry, or if you are interested in any of these trips, please contact Barbara Lott.
Native American Ministry Photos
